The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1887-04-21
HORRIBLE RAILROAD ACCI-
DENT
At the Main Street Crossing of
the C. H. & ID. in Eaton!

~ SbHCCG O60AH vi
the C. HI. & ID. i'm Eaton!
On last Friday morning Mike Nash
and Charles Bitter left their homes at
Arcanum, Darke county, in a buggy
for Lewisburg, this county, as we are
informed, for the purpose of seeing MIR.
Nichols of that village about the pur-
chase of a couple of billiard tables
When the parties arrived at Lewisburg
they found upon inquiry that Nichols
had started for Eaton, and to meet him
in time to return home they must drive
here, which they concluded to do, ar
irving in town about 4 O'Clock in the
afternoon and putting their horse and
vehicle up at the livery stable of Mr..
Pugh. After meeting Nichols n of
the two wanted to remain in Eaton all
night, while the other insisted on start
ing homeward. They were in town
about three hours, during which time
they managed to get outside of consid-
cradle liquor, Nash getting very much
under the influence of it. About Z o'clock
they ordered their team out and inquir-
ed of Mr.. Pugh, first the distance to
Manchester and then to West Alexan-
dria. After hesitating a few minutes
they paid their bill, remarking, "we
may be back again." and started east
on Main street toward West Alexan-
dria. The distance from Mr.. Pugh's
stable to the railroad crossing is scarce
ly two squares. The two men had gone
but a little more than half the distance
to the crossing when the 7o'clock Rich
mond accommodation train, behind
time and running at a high rate of speed,
whistled a warning for the crossing. 1t
is stated by witnesses that one of the
parties urged the horse in an effort
TO beat the train over the crossing, but
the attempt was disastrous and horri-
BILE. Just as they reached the track the
engine shot square between the vehicle
and horse, hurting the two men twenty
feet into the air, smashing the buggy
into pieces and killing the horse. Sew
eral persons witnessed the frightful af-
fair, among them "a daughter of Mr..
VIM. Albright, who quick as possible
ran to the assistance of the mangled
body of Bitter and the bruised and
bleeding person of Nash, both of which
lay within a few feet of each other. Bit
ner was instantly killed. His brains
were spattered around for several feet,
a sickening sight for the hundreds to
gaze upon who rushed pell nell to the
scene and almost climbed over the heads
of each other to get a sight! Nash was
picked up unconscious and taken into
the residence of Mr.. Albright, his
wounds and bruises dressed and then
carried to the Reichel House, where at
the present writing he still remains I'M
der the care of his wife and a brother,
who arrived the next day, with favora-
BILE prospects of his recovery.
Bitter vas about 30 years old and a
single man, and it is said was very pop
ular in the community Of Arcanum, to
which place his body was taken for in
terment on Saturday last by undertaken
Jefferson, and a brother-in-law of the
unfortunate man. Two OF three sisters
mourn his tragic death.
The testimony given atthe Coroner's
inquest clearly exonorates the railroad
from the responsibility of the accident
and the death of Bitter. 1t was a clear
case of reckless driving by two men I'M
der the influence of liquor, and we feel
satisfied, without any knowledge of the
verdict of the Coroner at present, which
was withheld a few days, that such will
be his finding. There is one thing GER
tain, however, that the train was run
ming at a speed through the corpora
ton, as all others have been doing, ex-
tremely dangerous and in violation of
law, and in the future should not be al
lowed.
p. S.-Since the above was put in type
the Coroner has returned his verdict,
as follows:
I, the undersigned Coroner of Preble
county, Ohio, having duly inquired in
to as to whom and by what means Chas.
Bitter, whose dead body was found at
the G. r. & c. r. r. crossing, east
Main street, Eaton, O., on the 18th day
of April, A. d. 1887, came to his death.
After having examined said body,
and heard the evidence l do find the
deceased anne to his death by being run
into by a locomotive on the G.. r. & G..
r. R.. 1 further find that while the R.
R. authorities are eXonerated from
blame for the accident, they are deserv-
ing of great censure for the high rate
of speed at which they allow their trains
to be run through corporate limits.
Signed,
CHAs. G. JONES, Coroner.